Michigan SmartZone Network

MTEC SmartZone 

Michigan Technological University

• Students from Michigan Tech identify innovations with commercial potential, develop prototypes, qualify market opportunities and develop strategies to start a company that they can then pursue.

• Assessment, assistance with writing business plans, market research and validation, and financial plan development.

• Incubator space and site selection and management assistance.

• Entrepreneurial training and leadership planning and networking events.

• Access to university assets.

Sault Ste. Marie

Lake Superior State University

• LSSU Prototype Development Center is housed in the Sault Ste. Marie Industrial Incubator.

• Technology Breeder, a flexible manufacturing technology accelerator, has capacity to demonstrate and test methods to scale from prototype to mass production efficiently, making effective process, build and equipment decisions.

Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center

Grand Valley State University

• Self-sustaining distributive energy center features a 30 kw Unisolar thin film photovoltaic solar roof array, a 30 kw Capstone micro turbine and a Skystream 3.7 wind turbine.

• Michigan Offshore Wind Pilot Project is designed to measure wind conditions, seasonal ice conditions and conduct other related research on Lake Michigan on a year-round basis to aid in the development of commercial scale energy generation.

• Operational BioMass plant has the capacity to evaluate a variety of anaerobic biodigesters and produce reduced pathogen fertilizer by-products.

• Specialized energy laboratories and engineering space.

West Michigan Science and Technology Initiative

Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences

• Regional medical partners collaborate in clinical programs and patient care operations.

• New Venture Center has two incubator facilities for life science and medical device companies.

• Idea Cycle provides the commercialization infrastructure necessary to effectively mine, assess, protect and develop novel life science product ideas in West Michigan.

• West Michigan Medical Device Consortium (WMMDC) provides regional medical device companies the opportunity to collaborate and promote their expertise.

• Entrepreneurs Anonymous is an entrepreneur-to-entrepreneur invitation-only organization comprised of West Michigan's top entrepreneurial minds.

CMU Research Corporation

Central Michigan University

• National Dendrimer & Nanotechnology Center is dedicated to the expanded use of dendrimer technologies in biomedical, diagnostic, and nano-material applications.

• Business Insight uses advanced analytics, sophisticated tools and expert insight to get the most out of organizational data to solve complex issues and make key business decisions.

Mount Pleasant SmartZone Satellite

Mid-Michigan Innovation Center

• Virtual Tenant Program.

• Entrepreneurial Internship Program engages college students in the start-up experience.

• Supported by The Dow Chemical Company and partnered with Blue Water Angels.

Lansing Regional SmartZone

Cities of East Lansing and Lansing, Ingham County, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce, MBI International, Michigan State University, the Michigan State University Foundation and the University Corporate Research Park

• The mission of the University Corporate Research Park (UCRP) is to mutually benefit Michigan State University and tenants of the research park through the advancement of research, technology, development of new knowledge, and commercialization of intellectual property.

• East Lansing Technology Innovation Center has 7,000 square feet of newly renovated, loft-style office space overlooking the beautiful Michigan State University campus in downtown East Lansing, co-located with MSU Technologies and MSU Business CONNECT.

• The Hatch is a dedicated, collaborative space designed to host, encourage, cultivate and enable student entrepreneurs to grow their ideas through a creative, co-working environment.

Southwest Michigan Innovation Center

Western Michigan University

• Specialized wet lab space.

• Clustering of former Pfizer talent and spinout companies.

• Resides within the Western Michigan University Business Technology and Research Park (www.wmich.edu/btr).

• Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center is dedicated to drug discovery and providing seed funds to start-ups commercializing pharmaceuticals.

• Southwest Michigan First Life Science Fund is a $50 million fund investing in early stage life science companies with a presence or committed to establishing a presence in southwestern Michigan to spur economic development and retain intellectual capital within the region.

Battle Creek Unlimited

Western Michigan University and Kellogg Community College

• Regional Manufacturing Technology Center is an innovative, community-driven training facility located in Fort Custer Industrial Park in Battle Creek.

• E-learning virtual incubator.

• bcVentures cultivates mentors from angel networks, venture capitalists, educational institutions and local business owners and assists in investor presentation preparation.

• BC-Connected networking events and entrepreneurial education workshops in Battle Creek educate entrepreneurs and encourage the formation of professional and peer networks.

Jackson Technology Park

Baker College, Jackson Community College and Spring Arbor University

• Business Success Program combines local and state resources to retain and grow businesses.

Ann Arbor SPARK

University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University

• SPARK Regional Incubator Network includes two business and one state-of-the-art wet lab incubator.

• Entrepreneur Boot Camp is two intensive days for early stage companies to identify and work through critical business issues, gaining strategic and insightful solutions from peers and mentors.

• Cantillion self-paced e–course is a comprehensive training resource for technology entrepreneurs at any stage of business development providing hands-on guidance from experienced business mentors.

• Michigan Innovation Equipment Depot provides life science start-up companies throughout Michigan access to previously used laboratory equipment useful and valuable to a start-up company’s product research, development and manufacturing.

Pinnacle Aeropark

Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Wayne County Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE)

• The vision of the Pinnacle Aeropark of Wayne County is to transform approximately 1,200 acres of underutilized, county-owned land in close proximity to the airport into a high-quality, mixed use business and high technology development.

TechTown

Wayne State University

• Significant community and Kaufman Foundation collaboration is designed to revitalize the city of Detroit and launch 400 new businesses from 2009-2011.

• SmartStart accelerator program guides companies through product development, marketing, funding and basic business operations.

• International Soft Landings (ISL) is a National Business Incubator Association-accredited program designed to assist foreign companies seeking business expansion opportunities in Michigan.

• The Front Door is a gateway program to Wayne State University’s research assets, faculty expertise and student talent.

OU INCubator

Oakland University — Rochester

• Preparation for tenant, affiliate, accelerator clients to:

  • pinpoint what you need to get started

  • research your potential market

  • enable you to focus on growing your business

  • promote your business through networking

  • assist in securing financing and capital

  • reduce overhead start-up costs

  • engage senior executives in mentoring your company

• Corporate Partner Program bridges industry sponsors and start-up activities to accelerate technology commercialization.

• Collaboratory is a unique electronic decision support system environment that empowers group work teams to simultaneously brainstorm information and ideas in order to foster collaboration, categorization, prioritization and consensus building.

• Kitchen Cabinet Advisory Board to assist client companies with strategic planning, financial management and reaching their business goals.

Macomb INCubator

Oakland University — Macomb 

• Focused on defense & homeland security, alternative energy and advanced manufacturing businesses.

Automation Alley

Lawrence Technological University and Oakland University

• National Automotive Center operates under a cooperative research and development agreement with the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC).

• Entrepreneur's Initiative of Southeast Michigan (EISEM) is a series of programs that works to highlight regional entrepreneurs and their businesses.

• Center for Automotive Research develops objective economic and systems modeling research, new manufacturing methodologies, industry forecasting and public policy advice.